2019-10-29 Joint BOS and SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joint Meeting Board of Selectmen and School Committee October 29, 2019 A Joint Meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen and the School Committee was called to order at 7:05p.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 in the Cafeteria of the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, 201 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA. Present for the Board of Selectmen (BOS): Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Barry, Ms. Hai and Mr. Sandeen as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. Present from the School Committee (SC): Ms.Jay, Chair; Mr. Bokun; Ms. Lenihan; Ms. Sawhney; Ms. Colburn; and Dr. Hackett, Superintendent. Also present: Ms. Wendy Rundle, Facilitator; Ms. Interess, Director of Human Services; and Ms. Val Viscosi, Director of Counseling Lexington Public Schools. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Recap of Previous Joint Meeting Regarding Mental Health Initiatives Facilitator Ms. Wendy Rundell gave a brief recap of collaborative Town and School mental health initiatives which include the formation of the Mental Health Task Force in 2018. She introduced Heather Burns, Director of Operations, William James Mental Health Referral Service. 2. Update from Williams James Interface Referral Service: Heather Burns The William James Interface Referral Service, with a mission to connect individuals and families across the lifespan to mental health services, has been serving the Lexington community for close to one year. At the 6-month milestone, a review document was generated; another review report will be distributed on the 1-year anniversary. Takeaways, based on data gathered during the last year:  By the 6-month mark, William James had made 76 mental health service referrals, a number that Ms. Burns called “significantly higher” than expected, compared to other communities it serves. Since that milestone was reached, another 44 referrals have been made, equaling 110 to date.  The predominance of referrals has been for school age children; 20 referrals have been for people in the “adult” category; 10 more have been for “older adults”. Parents usually make the calls to request referral for children but sometimes older children initiate the calls. William James requires that a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult be a participant in the in-take process to provide basic information and permission to work with a minor child. 1